LGBT Morning Mix: Obama’s UN Speech and Other Global News

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Today’s LGBT Morning Mix comes with a global flavor sporting stories from Tasmania to Belize and a few stops in between.

First, Obama’s words from a Wednesday address before the United Nations General Assembly. While there to focus on the Palestine statehood bid, Obama also included the following gay rights mention:

And to make sure our societies reach their potential, we must allow our citizens to reach theirs. No country can afford the corruption that plagues the world like a cancer. Together, we must harness the power of open societies and open economies. That’s why we’ve partnered with countries from across the globe to launch a new partnership on open government that helps ensure accountability and helps to empower citizens. No country should deny people their rights to freedom of speech and freedom of religion, but also no country should deny people their rights because of who they love, which is why we must stand up for the rights of gays and lesbians everywhere.

Wondered how the repeal of ”Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” went down with American troops overseas? Well, for Matthew Walmsley stationed at the United States Air Force base at Mildenhall in East Anglia in the UK it was mostly “business as usual” but Walmsley admits to a sense of relief: “I am really happy that DADT is ending,” he is quoted as saying. ”It means that [...] I will not have to lie anymore about who I am – that’s the really good thing for me.” However, another U.S. servicemember at the base said that because the U.S. retains other laws like the Defense of Marriage Act, he and his partner are still not equal. Read these reactions and more over at UK Gay News.

Speaking of marriage equality, Tasmania’s lower House voted this week to pass a resolution that supports the principle of marriage equality with Premiere Premier Lara Giddings saying the vote was a historic day for the state. The Greens’ motion is supported by the presiding Labor party and calls on the federal government to change the Marriage Act to allow for same-sex marriage. While this motion doesn’t in itself legalize marriage equality, which must be done by the federal government, it does send a clear signal that a strong proportion of Tasmanian’s lower House supports the move, while the upper chamber is also being lobbied to pass a similar resolution. Read more on that here.

Tasmania’s gay marriage stance has also put pressure on Australian lawmakers who have been flirting with the notion of same-sex marriage for months now, with marriage equality supporters within the country calling on the Australian government to act and pass a marriage equality bill. Whether there is enough support among lawmakers for such action remains to be seen, but pressure is mounting. Read more on that here.

Back on American soil for a moment, Rev. Disani Christopher Senyonjo, a former Anglican bishop in Uganda, will speak at All Souls Memorial Episcopal Church (2300 Cathedral Ave., N.W.) in Washington on Sunday reports the Washington Blade. Rev. Senyonjo is on what he calls a “Compass to Compassion Tour” in the U.S. in order to try and educate Americans on the persecution of LGBTs in his home country and 75 other countries where being LGBT is effectively criminalized. You can read more about Rev. Senyonjo’s tour here.

Lastly, LGBT rights groups from around the Caribbean are supporting a judicial review of Belize’s anti-buggery laws. Oral arguments are scheduled to be heard in the Supreme Court in early December of this year, and LGBT rights advocates are looking to this as a test case for overturning laws that are used to criminalize homosexuality in the region. More on that here.

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25 comments

Curious that this RevS has received morevattention than President Obama. For me, she is a trivial thorn, wanting to get attention and espouse decisive language. But, Obama has affirmed some basis American values, that the right to pursue happiness is available to all people. (although the Constituion gives it to men only. Yet, we evolve.).

President Obama, you have not jumped all over equality, and you have maintained a steady course. I applaud that pace, as it allows discussion and an opportunity for people to educate themselves on the woes of oppression. Democracy is not majority rule - it actually is far from that system. The gay and lesbian plight to love who they wish, with the same commitment afforded straight folk, is to be commends as a shift that I admire

The role of the church is to support self examination and Spiritual formation - not to be an intercessory in the relationship between individuals and the Divine. So, let's hold and form our beliefs on alive, the most important thing. My seminary years, degree, and ordination did not give me authority to appropriate your relationship and responsibility

Obama has done a right regular turn around. Why?. Well he's beholden to the ZIONIST Elite and can't afford to oppose them . He's a puppet on a string , and just as well in this case.. Israel is a jewish country , always has been, The palastinian homeland is Jordan so whay don't they go live there. where most of their people have lived for thousands of years.? .

Actually Rev S., God didn't write in English, a language not yet invented during His most productive years as an author. You are relying on relatively modern translations that often miss the subtleties of the original text and may reflect more on the time of the translation than on God's actual opinion.

This all assumes God exists, of course, which is an assertion I'm not prepared to make. I will note that here in Massachusetts, where gay marriage was first legalized in the US, we have had relatively few floods and earthquakes, and have experienced no plagues since same-sex couples were able to marry. I'll check outside again when I have a minutes, but I haven't seen a locust in years.

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Steve Williams is a passionate supporter of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT) rights, human rights, animal welfare and health care reform. He is a published novelist, poet and citizen journalist, and a scriptwriter for computer games, film and web serials. less